FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
Rob Fisher
408-644-2809
rob@tabardtheatre.org
The Feel-Good Musical LADY, BE GOOD Caps Off
The Tabard Theatre Company’s 2009 – 2010 Season
SAN JOSE, Calif. (February 8, 2010) – The madcap musical comedy LADY, BE
GOOD, featuring music by George and Ira Gershwin, makes its South Bay
premiere March 5 –27 at Theatre on San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose
as the final production in the 2009-2010 season by The Tabard Theatre
Company.
LADY, BE GOOD is a fast-paced, lighthearted musical about a brother and sister
vaudeville team who are out of money and out of luck – or are they?
LADY, BE GOOD brings to life the feel-good times of the early 1920s. Tabard
brings this not-often produced musical to South Bay audiences, making it another
area premiere. LADY, BE GOOD was first seen on Broadway in 1924 starring
the real-life brother and sister act Fred and Adele Astaire as the brother and
sister vaudeville team who fall on hard times but bounce back quickly using their
pluck and ingenuity with tuneful melodies like Fascinating Rhythm and Oh Lady,
be Good! to accompany their toe-tapping madcap adventures.
“With so many people going through such difficult times these days, a show like
LADY, BE GOOD is the perfect escape,” says director Diane Milo. “People will
come and see this show and be completely entertained by it. It is frothy, light
fun”.
Milo, who directed Tabard’s very successful award-winning production of
CROWNS last season, has over 50 musical theatre credits as director, vocal
director or performer with such companies as American Musical Theatre/SJ,
Foothill Music Theatre, City Lights Theatre Company, Saratoga Drama
Group, and West Valley Light Opera.
As to why Tabard has chosen this rare Gershwin treasure, Milo reflected that
“LADY, BE GOOD is an example of the type of Broadway musical that set the
standard for a generation and left a legacy of wit, music and charm that is rarely
seen on modern stages, usually when a show like this is revived.”
Joining Milo in bringing this classic musical comedy to South Bay audiences is
Dottie Lester-White who returns to Tabard to choreograph this show, after
choreographing Tabard’s acclaimed production of the world premiere of A Taffeta
Wedding last fall. With Broadway credits that include No, No Nanette with Ruby
Keeler, LADY, BE GOOD is a perfect show for Ms. Lester-White since it features
tremendous tap and song-and-dance numbers.
In keeping with Tabard’s tradition to donate a portion of concession proceeds to
a local non-profit that is in some way thematically related to the production, the
cast and staff of LADY, BE GOOD have designated CaringBridge.org for their
work to help connect injured and ill patients with family and friends.
This charity was chosen by the cast and staff in honor of local choreographer,
Tyler Risk, who was in a severe motorcycle accident in June 2009 requiring
pelvic reconstruction and several surgeries to have skin grafted back onto her
legs. Released from the hospital just before Thanksgiving, she is now home and
continues to heal with the loving support of her family and friends. The theatre
community was kept up-to-date on Tyler's situation by her closest friends and
caregivers through daily postings on CaringBridge, a charitable, non-profit
organization dedicated to bringing together a global community of care powered
by the love of family and friends in an easy, accessible and private way.
Given that LADY, BE GOOD is about two performers in need, Tabard chose
CaringBridge in Tyler’s honor
Tabard’s production of LADY, BE GOOD runs March 5 - 27 at Theatre on San
Pedro Square in downtown San Jose. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at
8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. with a special
Wednesday performance on March 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets to Tabard productions are
available online at www.tabardtheatre.org or by calling 800-838-3006.
Reservations strongly recommended.
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High-resolution production images of all Tabard productions are available on the
About Us/Press Room page of www.tabardtheatre.org.
Featured: Mary Kalita (gold dress) and Keith Pennings (glasses); Gary Stanford
Jr. and Debra J. Crenshaw (silver dress)
Photo credit: Edmond Kwong Photography